Celebrating 75 Years of Cooperation for Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration

Published: January 17, 2012

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) join the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor
Trade Show and Conference (2012 SHOT show) to announce the start of a
year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport
Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful
partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.

In Alaska, ADF&G received almost $34 million dollars through such programs
in 2011; including $15,264,514 in Wildlife Restoration funding and
$18,234,739 through the Sport Fish Restoration Program. These dollars,
combined with annual hunting and fishing license revenues, fund fish and
wildlife management, research, education and public access work done by
ADF&G.

“WSFR has proven to be one of the most successful fish and wildlife
restoration and management programs in the world,” said ADF&G Commissioner
Cora Campbell. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation
to the sportsmen and women who purchase annual Alaska hunting and fishing
licenses as well as the hunting, fishing, shooting and boating industries
for their role in providing funding to ensure that current and future
generations will continue to enjoy Alaska’s abundant fish and wildlife
resources.”

“Hunters and anglers were America’s first conservationists, and they
continue to fund the bulk of efforts in our state and across our nation to
benefit fish and wildlife,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alaska
Regional Director Geoffrey L. Haskett. “These men and women provide
dedicated, critical funding for state fish and wildlife agencies through
the Dingell-Johnson and Pittman-Robertson Programs. These funds support
projects that aid both game and nongame species, and benefit everyone who
enjoys the Alaska outdoors.”

The anniversary brings together federal and state fish and wildlife
agencies; the hunting, shooting, angling, and boating industries; and
conservation groups to acknowledge our common goals and successes resulting
in 75 years of quality hunting, fishing, shooting, boating and
wildlife-related recreation. This milestone occasion also marks the
beginning of a new era in wildlife conservation during which we will work
to establish new goals for sparking awareness and fostering and maintaining
avenues that benefit conservation and outdoor recreation for the next 75
years, and beyond.

For more information about the WSFR program and its 75th Anniversary in
2012, visit: